Flexible ladder and receptacle therefor



1952 c. H. BELiAMY FLEXIBLE LADDER AND RECEPTACLE THEREFOR Filed April 10, 194i 3 Sheets-Sneet 1 Nov. 4, 1952 c. H. BELLAMY FLEXIBLE LADDER AND RECEPTACLE THEREFOR FiledApril 10. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qwuwvfm llamy,

ClydeHBe Nov. 4, 1952 c. H. BELLAMY FLEXIBLE LADDER AND RECEPTACLE THEREFOR iled April 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sneet 3 Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE LADDER AND RECEPTACLE THEREFOR 2 Claims.

This invention relates to fire escapes, and more particularly to that type of fire escapes in which a flexible ladder is secured adjacent a window or other exit, which can be released and utilized in case of fire.

An object of this invention is to provide a system of fire escapes for a building in units associated with various windows, each unit including a flexible cable normally consolidated in compact form adjacent a window, and each ladder controlled by latching means operable either from that window or a window below by means of which access may be had in an emergency from one floor to another either above or below a particular window.

The present invention has for a further object the provision of an improved and simplified form of fire escape of the type indicated, with means for supporting the flexible ladder in a compact and consolidated form adjacent a windowsill where it will be protected from the weather when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of flexible ladders with means for raising and consolidating the ladder from the window into consolidated position adjacent the window.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character indicated with means operable from below for straightening and guiding the flexible ladder in the course of its opening movements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved retaining and releasing device operable either from the window or from the ground, or windows below, as desired.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Three sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building equipped with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention applied to a windowsill;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the frame of the device removed from the windowsill;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical cross section through the device associated with a window but taken on substantially the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device shown applied to a windowsill;

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the device illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical cross section taken on line 88 of Figure 6, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

The present invention contemplates the equipment of a building with a plurality of flexible ladders, one for each window or for each of a selected group of windows with a view to providing for emergency access from one floor of the building to other floors above or below it, by way of the exterior of the building.

The drawings herein illustrate two embodiments of my invention and each includes a frame member I adapted to be secured by screws or otherwise to a windqwsill S, this frame I being preferably formed with a perpendicular flange portion 2 adapted to abut and be secured to an inner portion of the windowsill structure, as illustrated.

In both forms of the invention a flexible ladder is utilized which is formed with spaced suspension members i4 which may be of rope, but preferably constructed of either wire cable or chains. Suspended by these flexible supporting members 4-4 are the usual ladder rungs 5 secured adjacent their ends to said suspension members to constitute steps upon which a person can descend in an emergency.

Associated with each of these ladders is a supplementary flexible cord or cable 35, one end of which is secured to the frame I intermediate the supporting flexible supporting members 4-4. This cord 35 is slidably associated with each of the rung members 5 by being passed through a suitable guide slot formed in said rung members, or some other suitable guide means, and this flexible cord 35 is secured to the bottom rung member of the ladder as at 35, and is of sufficient length to depend below said bottom rung to the ground when the ladder is in its consolidated position adjacent the windowsill. By means of this flexible cord or cable 35 the latter can be elevated from the window into its consolidated position under and adjacent the windowsill and frame member I, and after the ladder has been released the depending portion of the flexible cable 35 can be manipulated from the ground as necessary to prevent the tangling of the ladder in its descent, and to assure the proper positioning of the ladder after its release.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the frame member I is formed of sufficient width to extend beyond the windowsill S and has its outer edge deflected as at l to form a canopy beneath which the consolidated ladder can be suspended and protected from the weather.

In this form of the invention the ladder is supported in its consolidated position, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, by means of a stirrup device comprising spaced flexible members 8, the rear ends of which are looped to the suspending staples 9 to form a pivotal connection with the supporting frame, and the outer ends of which are connected to a transverse bar I formed with a medial hasp member II, which hasp H is adapted to be engaged by a retractable bolt [4, the end of which slides through an orifice I3 in a bolt housing 12 secured to the underside of frame member I adjacent its forward edge. The rear end of the bolt I4 is pivotally connected to a lever :15 projecting from a bolt shaft 16 which-is pivoted :in journals l'll1.ll secured to the under face of frame member I. The inner end of the bolt shaft I6 is bent at an angle, as at 38, to constitute"a stop for the shaft, while the outer end of the bolt shaft I6 is connected to a two-armed lever 18, the inner arm of whichprojects in the-direction of the window, as illustrated in Figures .2 and 4, being formed with aterminal handle loo 22 adapted to en gage a spring detent 23 carried by the frame member I to hold the lever in position. The outer "end of the lever 18 is provided with a terminal loop '10 to which is attached a cord "or cable '20 of sufficient length .to depend to the window below.

In this form of the device when the ladder is :raised to its consolidated position under the frame I and adjacent the windowsill, the sup- :porting members 8 are swung forwardly and under the consolidated ladder and the hasp ll engagedby the bolt 14 'in the bolt housing 12, as well shown in Figure 4. The manipulation of the lever 18 either by means of the hand grip .22 from the windowsill, or by means of the cord from the window below, will retract the bolt l4, thus releasing the consolidated ladder and permitting same to drop to the ground. Should the rungs become entangled the depending portion of the medial flexible cable can be manipulated from the window below to straighten out the ladder in its descent. After the emergency has passed theupper portion of the cable 35 can'be pulled from the window, elevating and consolidating the ladder under the frame I, after which the supporting device 8 can be re-engaged and'the-ladder will be in position for further use.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures'6 to 9, the frame member I is associated by 'its forward edge adjacent the forward face of the sill S by means of a hinge 24 with a boxlike structure 25, which box-like structure is so proportioned as to accommodate the consolidated flexible ladder in its elevated position. This box-like structure 25 is provided with bottom 26 hinged to the back wall of the box as at 21, and this bottom is provided on its forward edge with an upstanding flange 28 provided with an orifice adapted to receive a locking bolt 30, which is formed of U-shaped having one end secured 4 to the bolt shaft l6 which is suitably journaled on the interior of the forward wall of the box structure 25, this bolt shaft l6 extending beyond one end wall of the box structure 25, as illustrated in Figure 7 and having connected thereto a similar double arm lever I8, the inner leg of which is bent at right angles to form a second portion 2| which is in turn associated with the operating handle 22. The outer end of the lever I8 is, as in the other embodiment of the invention, provided with a terminal loop 19 connected to a cord 20 of sufiicient length to extend to the window below. Where necessary, spacer elements 32 will be secured to the back wall of the box structure 25 to properly space the box from the wall of the building, as illustrated.

Various modifications in the precise shape and construction of the various parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, but within the scope of .the present invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described :my invention, vI claim:

1. A fire escape comprising, a box- "ke container, a bracket adapted to be secured to the exterior sill of a window, said bracket and said container being hingedly connected along an upper long edge of the container whereby said container may be pivoted to rest bottom up on the sill, a bottom for the container pivoted with respect to the container having an inwardly directed flange, a side wall of said container and said bottom flange having matching openings, which are in register when the bottom is closed, a shaft extending through the container parallel to the container wall having the opening, an arcuate bolt secured on the shaft within the container having its free end positioned to pass into the registering openings in the container wall and bottom flange, a lever connected to said shaft exteriorly of said container, and a flexible ladder having one end secured to the bracket and sill and adapted to nest in said container supported by said pivoted bottom when not in use.

2. A flre escape, as claimed in claim '1, said lever being a double arm lever secured to the shaft at a mid-point between the arms, one arm of said lever being formed as ahand .grasp convenient to the top of the container, and .a flexible cord connected to the other arm ofsaid lever and depending exteriorly of the building.

CLYDE H. 'BELLAMY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Walker .Mar. 17, 1942 

